Trash Management

With Your Help, a Cleaner, Greener Central Park

The Central Park Conservancy is always developing innovative ways to improve your experience in the Park. We're launching a new trash management system that will reduce rats, result in fewer vehicles on paths, and increase recycling. Here's how:

Strategic removal and relocation of cans, resulting in fewer rats in Central Park.

This strategic placement of fewer can locations means fewer pickup vehicles on paths, and a safer Park for children and pets.

Installation of more recycling cans, leading to a projected 30 percent increase in recycling in the Park.

The Conservancy is introducing 700 newly designed trash and recycling cans to the Park. Made from partially recycled aluminum donated by Alcoa Inc., these cans are more durable than the plastic ones you're used to and their one-of-a-kind design was inspired by the slats of the Park's iconic benches! This new trash strategy was made possible by the Alcoa Foundation, which generously donated $500,000 toward its development, and Landor Associates, who custom-designed the new trash cans.

Visitors like you will be our most important partners in making this new plan a success. With your help, the Park will be cleaner and more sustainable than ever.